Abstract: Electrode for an energy storage device which comprises a powder of particles (26) comprising amorphous, micro- or nano-crystalline coated or uncoated silicon oxynitride having a chemical formula SiNxOy, where 0.03?x+y<1.3, whereby nitrogen makes up 10-99% of said x+y value with the balance being oxygen.

Abstract: Electrode (24) for an electrical energy storage device, which electrode (24) comprises an electrode active material layer (10) containing a plurality of particles of modified electrode active material comprising amorphous or crystalline, micro- or nano-sized stoichiometric or non-stochiometric silicon nitride each having a chemical formula of SiNx whereby 0 to 30% of said particles (12) contain one or more modifying elements selected from the group: phosphorus (P), boron (B), carbon (C), oxygen (O), sulphur (S), selenium (Se), arsenic (As), tin (Sn), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al), iron (Fe), germanium (Ge) or antimony (Sb), and arranged in a conductive electrode matrix (14) so as to exhibit at least one of the following: a) a chemical composition gradient, whereby the nitrogen content within the particles (12) increases or decreases with distance from a surface (16) of the electrode active material layer (10), and/or b) a particle size gradient, whereby the average particle size of the particles of modified

Abstract: Electrical energy storage device (22) comprising an anode (24), a cathode (26) and electrolyte (28), whereby the anode (24) comprises particles (10, 20, 30, 40) comprising an amorphous and/or crystalline silicon-based core (12), a continuous or non-continuous first carbon-containing shell (14, 14a), and a continuous or non-continuous second carbon-containing shell (16, 16a). The second carbon-containing shell (16, 16a) has a higher density and/or a higher atomic percentage of carbon than the first carbon-containing shell (14, 16a).

Abstract: A device and associated method are provided for a light emitting diode device (LED) with suppressed quantum dot (QD) photobrightening. The QD surfaces, with a maximum cross-sectional dimension of 10 nanometers, are treated with a solution including a multi-valent cation salt. In response to heating the solution, multi-valent cations become attached to the surface of the QD nanocrystals, forming treated QDs that are deposited overlying a top surface of an LED. The LED device emits a non-varying intensity of first wavelength light in the visible spectrum from the treated QDs, when subjected to a continuous exposure of a second wavelength of LED light having an intensity of greater than 50 watts per square centimeter. For example, blue, green, or red color light may be emitted when exposed to LED light in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, or a green or red color light when exposed to a blue color LED light.

Abstract: A method is presented for fabricating a light emitting diode (LED) device with a stratified quantum dot (QD) structure. The method provides an LED and a stratified QD structure is formed as follows. A first liquid precursor is deposited overlying the LED emission surface to form a transparent first barrier layer. A second liquid precursor is deposited overlying the first barrier layer to form a first layer of discrete QDs. A third liquid precursor is deposited overlying the first layer of QDs to form a transparent second barrier layer. Subsequent to each barrier layer liquid precursor deposition, an annealing is performed to cure the deposited precursor. The first and second barrier layers act to encapsulate the first layer of QDs. The LED emits a first wavelength of light, and the first layer of QDs converts the first wavelength of light to a first color of light in the visible spectrum.

Abstract: A device and associated method are provided for a light emitting diode device (LED) with suppressed quantum dot (QD) photobrightening. The QD surfaces, with a maximum cross-sectional dimension of 10 nanometers, are treated with a solution including a multi-valent cation salt. In response to heating the solution, multi-valent cations become attached to the surface of the QD nanocrystals, forming treated QDs that are deposited overlying a top surface of an LED. The LED device emits a non-varying intensity of first wavelength light in the visible spectrum from the treated QDs, when subjected to a continuous exposure of a second wavelength of LED light having an intensity of greater than 50 watts per square centimeter. For example, blue, green, or red color light may be emitted when exposed to LED light in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, or a green or red color light when exposed to a blue color LED light.

Abstract: A device and associated method are provided for a light emitting diode device (LED) with suppressed quantum dot (QD) photobrightening. The QD surfaces, with a maximum cross-sectional dimension of 10 nanometers, are treated with a solution including a multi-valent cation salt. In response to heating the solution, multi-valent cations become attached to the surface of the QD nanocrystals, forming treated QDs that are deposited overlying a top surface of an LED. The LED device emits a non-varying intensity of first wavelength light in the visible spectrum from the treated QDs, when subjected to a continuous exposure of a second wavelength of LED light having an intensity of greater than 50 watts per square centimeter. For example, blue, green, or red color light may be emitted when exposed to LED light in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, or a green or red color light when exposed to a blue color LED light.

Abstract: A method is presented for fabricating a light emitting diode (LED) device with a stratified quantum dot (QD) structure. The method provides an LED and a stratified QD structure is formed as follows. A first liquid precursor is deposited overlying the LED emission surface to form a transparent first barrier layer. A second liquid precursor is deposited overlying the first barrier layer to form a first layer of discrete QDs. A third liquid precursor is deposited overlying the first layer of QDs to form a transparent second barrier layer. Subsequent to each barrier layer liquid precursor deposition, an annealing is performed to cure the deposited precursor. The first and second barrier layers act to encapsulate the first layer of QDs. The LED emits a first wavelength of light, and the first layer of QDs converts the first wavelength of light to a first color of light in the visible spectrum.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a back contact perovskite solar cell. A substrate is coated with a positive electrode layer. The positive electrode layer is then conformally coated with a first insulator. A plurality of negative electrode segments are selectively deposited overlying the first insulator layer, and a second insulator layer is conformally deposited overlying the negative electrode segments and first insulator layer. The second insulator layer is selectively etched to expose the negative electrode segments, and an n-type semiconductor is selectively deposited overlying each exposed negative electrode segment to form n-type contacts. The first and second insulator layers are then selectively etched to expose positive electrode segments. A p-type semiconductor is selectively deposited over each exposed positive electrode segment to form p-type contacts. Finally, a hybrid organic/inorganic perovskite (e.g., CH3NH3Pbl3-XClX) layer is conformally deposited overlying the p-type and n-type contacts.

Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling the shape of antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) synthesized nanostructures. The method dissolves an antimony (III) salt in a first amount of carboxylic acid, forming an antimony precursor. In one aspect, antimony (III) chloride is dissolved in oleic acid. Separately, selenourea is dissolved in oleylamine, forming a selenium precursor. The antimony precursor is combined with the selenium precursor to form a first solution and cause a reaction. The reaction is quenched with a solvent having a low boiling point. In response to quenching the reaction in the first solution, antimony selenide nanorods are formed, having a length in the range of 150-200 nanometers (nm) and a diameter in the range of 20 to 30 nm. Related methods can be used to create, shorter nanorods, nanocrystals, and hollow nanospheres.

Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling the shape of antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) synthesized nanostructures. The method dissolves an antimony (III) salt in a first amount of carboxylic acid, forming an antimony precursor. In one aspect, antimony (III) chloride is dissolved in oleic acid. Separately, selenourea is dissolved in oleylamine, forming a selenium precursor. The antimony precursor is combined with the selenium precursor to form a first solution and cause a reaction. The reaction is quenched with a solvent having a low boiling point. In response to quenching the reaction in the first solution, antimony selenide nanorods are formed, having a length in the range of 150-200 nanometers (nm) and a diameter in the range of 20 to 30 nm. Related methods can be used to create, shorter nanorods, nanocrystals, and hollow nanospheres.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a thin film of perovskite material having an adjustable bandgap. The method forms a thin film of material having the formula BX2, where anionic part X is a halide, and where the cation B is lead (Pb), tin (Sn), or germanium (Ge). A solution is formed of materials with the formulas A1X and A2X, where cation A1 is formamidinium, and where cation A2 is an organic cation having a larger size larger than a methylammonium cation. The method deposits the solution over the BX2 thin film, and forms a perovskite material having the formula A11-YA2yBX3. For example, the A2 cation may be an ammonium cation such as ethylammonium, guanidinium, dimethylammonium, acetamidinium, or substituted derivatives of the above-mentioned ammonium cations. In one aspect, the perovskite material A1BX3 may be formamidinium iodide (FAI), and A2BX3 may be ethylammonium iodide (EtAI). Tandem solar cells are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a planar structure solar cell. Generally, the method forms a transparent conductive electrode, with a planar layer of a first metal oxide adjacent to the transparent conductive electrode. For example, the first metal oxide may be an n-type metal oxide. A semiconductor absorber layer is formed adjacent to the first metal oxide, comprising organic and inorganic materials. A p-type semiconductor hole-transport material (HTM) layer is formed adjacent to the semiconductor absorber layer, and a metal electrode is formed. adjacent to the HTM layer. In one aspect, the HTM layer is an inorganic material such as a p-type metal oxide. Some explicit examples of HTM materials include stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric molybdenum (VI) oxide, stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric vanadium (V) oxide, stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric nickel (II) oxide, and stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric copper (I) oxide. Also provide are planar solar cell devices.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a mesoporous-structured solar cell with a silane or siloxane barrier. The method forms a transparent conductive electrode overlying a transparent substrate. A non-mesoporous layer of a first metal oxide overlies the transparent conductive electrode, with a mesoporous layer of a second metal oxide overlying the non-mesoporous layer of first metal oxide. An aminoalkoxysilane layer overlies the mesoporous layer of second metal oxide. Over the aminoalkoxysilane layer is deposited a semiconductor absorber layer comprising organic and inorganic components. Using the aminoalkoxysilane linker, the mesoporous layer of second metal oxide is linked to the semiconductor absorber layer. A hole-transport material (HTM) layer is formed overlying the semiconductor absorber layer, and a metal electrode overlies the HTM layer. A mesoporous-structured solar cell with a silane or siloxane barrier is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a back contact perovskite solar cell. A substrate is coated with a positive electrode layer. The positive electrode layer is then conformally coated with a first insulator. A plurality of negative electrode segments are selectively deposited overlying the first insulator layer, and a second insulator layer is conformally deposited overlying the negative electrode segments and first insulator layer. The second insulator layer is selectively etched to expose the negative electrode segments, and an n-type semiconductor is selectively deposited overlying each exposed negative electrode segment to form n-type contacts. The first and second insulator layers are then selectively etched to expose positive electrode segments. A p-type semiconductor is selectively deposited over each exposed positive electrode segment to form p-type contacts. Finally, a hybrid organic/inorganic perovskite (e.g., CH3NH3Pbl3-XClX) layer is conformally deposited overlying the p-type and n-type contacts.

Abstract: A method is presented for forming a surface-passivated mesoporous-structured solar cell. The method provides a transparent substrate, and forms an overlying transparent conductive electrode. A non-mesoporous layer of a first metal oxide is formed overlying the transparent conductive electrode. A mesoporous structure is formed overlying the non-mesoporous layer of first metal oxide. The mesoporous structure includes a mesoporous layer of a second metal oxide over the first metal oxide layer, and coating the mesoporous layer of second metal oxide is a passivating semiconductor layer having a bandgap wider than the second metal oxide. A semiconductor absorber layer is formed overlying the mesoporous structure, which is made up of both organic and inorganic components. A hole-transport medium (HTM) layer is formed overlying the semiconductor absorber layer, which may be an organic material. A metal electrode overlies the HTM layer.

Abstract: An energy-efficient transparent solar film is presented. The solar film has a first film layer with metal nanostructures. The metal nanostructures have plasmon resonances in wavelength bands greater than, or both less than and greater than visible wavelengths, depending on size and shape. The metal nanostructures have no plasmon resonance at visible wavelengths. In another aspect, metal oxide nanocrystals are formed with the first film layer. The metal oxide nanocrystals have absorption in a band of wavelengths less than visible wavelengths, and absorption in a band of wavelengths greater than visible wavelengths. Also provided is a solar film window and fabricating method.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming an alkali metal-doped solution-processed metal chalcogenide. A first solution is formed that includes a first material group of metal salts, metal complexes, or combinations thereof, dissolved in a solvent. The first material group may include one or more of the following elements: copper (Cu), indium (In), and gallium (Ga). An alkali metal-containing material is added to the first solution, and the first solution is deposited on a conductive substrate. The alkali metal-containing material may be sodium (Na). An alkali metal-doped first intermediate film results, comprising metal precursors from corresponding members of the first material group. Then, thermally annealing is performed in an environment of selenium (Se), Se and hydrogen (H2), hydrogen selenide (H2Se), sulfur (S), S and H2, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), or combinations thereof. The metal precursors in the alkali metal-doped first intermediate film are transformed, and an alkali metal-doped chalcogenide layer is formed.

Abstract: Provided are methods of surface treatment of nanocrystal quantum dots after film deposition so as to exchange the native ligands of the quantum dots for exchange ligands that result in improvement in charge extraction from the nanocrystals.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a solution-processed metal and mixed-metal selenide semiconductor using selenium (Se) nanoparticles (NPs). The method forms a first solution including SeNPs dispersed in a solvent. Added to the first solution is a second solution including a first material set of metal salts, metal complexes, or combinations thereof, which are dissolved in a solvent, forming a third solution. The third solution is deposited on a conductive substrate, forming a first intermediate film comprising metal precursors, from corresponding members of the first material set, and embedded SeNPs. As a result of thermally annealing, the metal precursors are transformed and the first intermediate film is selenized, forming a first metal selenide-containing semiconductor. In one aspect, the first solution further comprises ligands for the stabilization of SeNPs, which are liberated during thermal annealing.